In English, “I opened the door” and “The door opened” use the same verb. In Japanese, these are two different verbs:
- ドアを開ける (あける) — I open the door (transitive: someone does it)
- ドアが開く (あく) — The door opens (intransitive: it happens by itself)
Japanese has hundreds of these verb pairs. Here’s how to understand and remember them.
The Key Difference
Transitive (他動詞 たどうし): Someone does the action TO something. Uses を particle.
→ 電気をつける (Turn ON the light)
Intransitive (自動詞 じどうし): Something happens by itself. Uses が particle.
→ 電気がつく (The light turns on)
Essential Verb Pairs
| Transitive (〜を) | Meaning | Intransitive (〜が) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 開ける (あける) | to open (sth) | 開く (あく) | to open (by itself) |
| 閉める (しめる) | to close (sth) | 閉まる (しまる) | to close (by itself) |
| つける | to turn on | つく | to turn on (by itself) |
| 消す (けす) | to turn off / erase | 消える (きえる) | to disappear / go off |
| 落とす (おとす) | to drop (sth) | 落ちる (おちる) | to fall |
| 出す (だす) | to take out / submit | 出る (でる) | to come out / leave |
| 入れる (いれる) | to put in | 入る (はいる) | to enter |
| 始める (はじめる) | to start (sth) | 始まる (はじまる) | to begin (by itself) |
| 終える (おえる) | to finish (sth) | 終わる (おわる) | to end (by itself) |
| 壊す (こわす) | to break (sth) | 壊れる (こわれる) | to break (by itself) |
| 変える (かえる) | to change (sth) | 変わる (かわる) | to change (by itself) |
| 起こす (おこす) | to wake (someone) | 起きる (おきる) | to wake up |
| 見つける (みつける) | to find | 見つかる (みつかる) | to be found |
| 決める (きめる) | to decide | 決まる (きまる) | to be decided |
| 集める (あつめる) | to collect / gather | 集まる (あつまる) | to gather (people) |
Patterns to Spot Them
Pattern 1: -eru (transitive) ↔ -aru (intransitive)
閉める ↔ 閉まる, 始める ↔ 始まる, 決める ↔ 決まる
Pattern 2: -su (transitive) ↔ -ru/-reru (intransitive)
落とす ↔ 落ちる, 壊す ↔ 壊れる, 出す ↔ 出る
Pattern 3: -eru (transitive) ↔ -u (intransitive)
開ける ↔ 開く, つける ↔ つく
Why It Matters in Real Life
Choosing the wrong one changes what you’re saying:
- 窓を閉めた = I closed the window (I did it)
- 窓が閉まった = The window closed (by itself, maybe wind)
In Japanese culture, using intransitive forms can be a way to avoid blame — “The vase broke” (花瓶が壊れた) sounds softer than “Someone broke the vase” (花瓶を壊した).
Memorize Pairs with Mnemonics
These pairs are hard to learn from a table. You need to encounter them in context, repeatedly. Kanjijo’s mnemonic system creates memorable stories for each kanji, and the SRS algorithm ensures you review verb pairs at optimal intervals so they truly stick in long-term memory.
Mnemonic stories, SRS flashcards, writing practice. Master verb pairs naturally. Free on iOS.